Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;Ephesians 5:25
What does Ephesians 5:25 mean?
Paul instructs husbands to love their wives the way Christ loved the church — a self-giving love, willing to sacrifice. It sets an extraordinarily high standard, grounded in Christ's own example rather than cultural norms.
Context
This verse is part of a longer passage in Ephesians 5 about relationships within the household, addressed to a first-century audience with its own cultural expectations of marriage. Paul repeatedly grounds the instructions in Christ's relationship to the church, reframing household roles around sacrificial love rather than mere authority.
Key themes
Related Bible verses
Bible study
- What does it mean to love 'as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it' — how high is that standard?
- How does grounding this instruction in Christ's example change its tone, compared to a general command to 'be nice'?
- What would sacrificial love look like practically in a marriage or close relationship you're part of?
Prayer
A short devotional prayer inspired by this verse — not scripture
Lord, teach husbands and all who love others to love sacrificially, the way Christ loved the church — giving, not just receiving. Amen.
Memorize this verse
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
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Frequently asked questions
What is the broader passage this verse belongs to?
Ephesians 5:22-33 addresses relationships within the household, repeatedly grounding the instructions in Christ's relationship to the church rather than cultural norms alone.
What standard does this verse set for love in marriage?
It points to Christ's self-giving, sacrificial love for the church as the model — a notably high and costly standard, not simply affection or convenience.